Including Ammunition Remains Controversial in Arms Trade Treaty Talks
Debate on specifics of a proposed treaty limiting trade in small arms remained heated at the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, though a composite "working document" emerged. Delegates received their first comprehensive paper on treaty principles July 24, from the conference president. The document included some elements proposed to be incorporated into a legally binding text.
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Conference President Roberto Garcia Moritan of Argentina said that the 12-page paper would make it possible for delegates to analyze, from the same perspective, the various aspects to be covered by the treaty. The paper contains possible language for the 25 articles of the proposed treaty, in addition to a preamble and principles.
Moritan reminded delegations that much negotiation remained before a treaty text could be finalized. And nearly 60 speakers expressed their views on some or all of the text. The representative of the United Kingdom said the text moved the international community closer to achieving a strong Treaty. Several speakers, including the delegate from Pakistan, agreed it was a good basis on which to begin “real negotiations,” saying it's time to “deepen clarity, bridge divisions, and craft clearer treaty language.” Japan welcomed the text but said some important points were missing, including covering the widest scope of arms and enhanced transparency in international arms transfers.
France stressed the imperative of having a scope of application that included all conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons. Speaking on behalf of member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Côte d’Ivoire’s representative expressed concern about the “disappearance” of ammunition and munitions from the text, saying ECOWAS members would not support a treaty that did not include that. Mexico’s representative said the treaty’s scope was “clearly limited” by omitting munitions. Australia’s representative agreed.
The U.S. representative said additional hard work could give the text the “potential to be a treaty that was both ambitious and realistic.” The U.S. delegation’s primary concern, however, was the reference to munitions, because it continues to believe that they don't belong in the treaty. Other areas that required his delegation’s further scrutiny included export and import, and transhipment, he said.
The representative of China said the arms trade treaty can't be used to interfere in a country’s internal affairs. On the question of munitions, there was “a serious degree of disagreement and it’s very difficult to reach consensus now,” he said, so nations “should abandon that particular effort.”
Meetings were to continue this week.